How Non-Muslims Can Get a Will for Assets in UAE

There is a huge number of professionals who live and work in the United Arab Emirates and many of them are non-Muslims. Most of the professionals coming from the western world are not accustomed to living under Islamic rules and laws, therefore they find it tough to get acclimatized with the local legal structure, especially during early days of their stay in the UAE. The UAE will for expats is one of the major challenges faced by them, especially if the bereaved family is completely unaware of the local legal system.

This article will educate you about how a will can save your family a great trouble if you come across a sudden loss of life and how you can get a will for your assets located in Dubai and other parts of the UAE.

If you’re a non-Muslim living in the UAE, you must have a will. In the absence of a legal will, the UAE inheritance law will immediately apply on all your assets. Such a situation can even hamper the guardians of your minor children.

A non-Muslim expat in the UAE must have a separate will in the country even if you already have a will in your country of origin. This is needed because the laws of your country won’t be implemented in the UAE. Only a will that is prepared and registered in the UAE will let your family claim the possession of your left behind assets and properties.

If you haven’t written your will during your stay in the UAE, the local authorities will immediately freeze your accounts after your demise. They will also cancel all the dependent visas, re-appropriation of assets may not stay within your closest family, while the custody of your minor children may go to someone who is not in your good books.

Moreover, your life insurance claims may be used for covering your liabilities or a local court may appropriate it as part of the property.

A court case against the automatic appropriation may take up to five years and may inflict massive legal payouts.

If you don’t have a will, a major chunk of your properties and bank balance is likely to go to your extended family as per the Islamic Sharia law.

Always make sure that your immediate family members are fully aware of the details of your assets so that they know what to claim when you’re no more in the world